TOPIC:

Shaun - many thanks for the heads up regarding your write up on Lourens Christiaan Odendaal, Every word has been copied and pasted into my Boer War files and I shall be paying the Burgers more attention in the future.

Best regards, David.

3731 PRIVATE GEORGE SMITH: 2ND BATTALION WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT: 5TH MOUNTED INFANTRY. KILLED IN ACTION 06/11/1900 AT BOTHAVILLE.

As you might appreciate the difficulties in researching a gentleman of the surname Smith, I have managed to raise the following possibility.

A George Smith attested to the Worcestershire Regiment at Dudley, Worcestershire in 1892. He was an Ironworker, a typical occupation in the black country in that era, and was born in Brockmoor, Brierley Hill, Staffordshire. A single man of 17years and 9 months, he was 5' 4" in height and weighed just 117 pounds. He was of fresh complexion, grey eyed and had brown hair. Church of England was his denomination. He had no distinguishing marks.

I have previously encountered Worcesters who had service previous to the South African conflict with service numbers which differ from the ones during their service in south Africa once recalled to the colours. So perhaps we might tentatively assume that this may be the case here?

Serving as 3731 Private George Smith of the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment attached to the 5th Mounted Infantry Company was killed in action at the battle of Bothaville on 6th November 1900.

The casualties for the Worcestershire contingent of the 5th Mounted Infantry at this engagement included 3731 Corporal George Smith, 4933 Private G. Horton both killed in action and 4153 Corporal T. Smith severely wounded.

The three casualty lists generally referred to, list 3731 with the name R. Smith. However, the medal rolls detail 3731 Private George Smith with initial "G". I feel that "G" for George is his actual Christian name.

The Record of Deceased Soldiers Effects also list 3731 G. Smith 2 Worcestershire Regiment of Brockmoor, Staffordshire.


Queen's South Africa medal awarded posthumously to 3731 Private George Smith (WO100/184).


Number, rank and naming officially impressed to the rim.


Regimental naming.


No description of the battle here, as most ably described in this thread by previous posts.

A brave black country lad who remains in South Africa.

References

ABW Forum : this thread.

Ancestry : medal rolls

Findmypast

Worcestershire Regiment website

4153 VORPORAL THOMAS HENRY LANE : 2nd BATTALION WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT: 5TH MOUNTED INFANTRY COMPANY.
SEVERELY WOUNDED AT BOTHAVILLE 06/1900.

Further to the conversation previously on this thread regarding 4153 Corporal Thomas Henry Lane, alias Thomas Smith who was severely wounded in the action at Bothaville.


King's South Africa medal awarded to 4163 Corporal Thomas Henry Lane ( incorrectly officially impressed F. H. LANE).
His QSA named to Thomas Smith remains extant. I missed it at auction a few years ago, much to my chagrin!


Number, rank and naming.

Reunite very much hoped for!

Steve - a couple of Wow's for those two medals.

I have a folder full of info about Thomas Henry Lane (alias J. Smith) including his 1894 Attestation Papers, Service Record covering the period 1894-1906, his 1902 repudiation of the name Smith and the copy of his birth certificate he had to supply to support the repudiation - all found on FMP. You may already have them but, if not, happy to email them along with 1881 & 1911 Census returns, baptism record and marriage certificate and 3 articles reporting his death/funeral.

I was going to post a link to his Find-a-Grave entry but I see you visited it 3 years ago but I will post, for others to read, the best of the 3 newspaper articles which includes a short biography:



Regards, David.

David,
Yes, I have picked up all of the above mentioned documents etc, with the exception of the report of his funeral from the press, which I am pleased to add to my own file on T H Lane.
The medal for Lane I have had for a few years. The QSA to George Smith turned up at London Medals last week, so I snapped it up very quickly. Kind of made me have to change my bidding strategy for Morton and Eden today, but well worth it! No regrets!lol!
Cheers Steve